Size adaption for automobile exhaust pipe extensions and the like



J 25, 1949- c. w. CHESTER 7 59,918

\ SIZE ADAPTION FOR AUTOMOBILE EXHAUST PIPE EXTENSIONS AND THE LIKEFiled Aug. 28, 1947 I27 vszvv ar Dara-'0]! ID: 515 52 5.2

fiM/y ght Patented Jan. 25, 1949 SIZE ADAPTIONFOR AUTOMOBILE EX- HAUSTPIPE EXTENSIONS AND THE LIKE Carroll Chester, Los Angeles, Calif. IApplication August 28, 1947, Serial No. 771,032

This invention relates generally to size adaption systems, and moreparticularly to adapter devices and systems suitable for use in adapterexhaust pipe extensions to automobile exhaust or tail pipes of differentsizes. The invention is particularly effective in that use, and theillustrative form of the invention which will be hereinafter describedhas been designed with that particular use in view. But the invention isnot limited to that use, as it has utility wherever a tubular member ofstandardized size is to be fitted onto other parts which may very insize.

In my previous applications, Ser. 584,309, filed March 23, 1945, andSer. 667,615,.filed May 6, 1946, I have described an exhaust pipeextension which, when mounted upon the exhaust pipe, has the function ofcontinuing the pipe to a point located rearwardly of the rearmost partsof an automobile structure, usually the rear bumper. That exhaust pipeextension, to avoid being injured by reason of its extension beyond thebumper, is laterally flexible and is capable'of being resilientlycompressed longitudinally of the exhaust pipe so that it may moveforward on the pipe. In a preferred design, the structure "involves atubular-member which is slidingly fitted to the exhaust pipe and isequipped with spring means for resisting its forward sliding movement.Exhaust pipes vary in diameter in various automobiles; and it is aspecific and particular objective of the present invention to provide asimple and easily applied size adaption to that sliding tube to make iteasily fitted to exhaust pipes of different diameters.

The following detailed specification will describe preferred embodimentsof my present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich Fig. 1 is an elevation showing my typical extension mounted upon atypical exhaust pipe;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of portionsofFig.1;..,.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Fig. 2 showing one arrangementof the adaption members;

Figs. 4 and 5 are similar cross sections showing other arrangements ofthe size adaption members and I Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are fragmentarysections taken as indicated by lines 66 on Fig. 3, 'I-I on Fig. 4, and88 on Fig. 5, and

Fig. 9 is another fragmentary longitudinal section similar to Figs. 6, 7and 8 showing another arrangement of the size adapter members.

As illustrated in the drawing the exhaust pipe 5 Claims. (Cl. 285-198)fit upon a 2" tail pipe.

extension includes a tubular member I!) which is slidingly mounted onthe exhaust pipe II, preferably in a relative position where the rearend of tubular member lll projects somewhat beyond.

the rear end of the pipe. A compression spring I2 has its rear endsecured to tubes II] by suitable clips I3, and has its forward endconnected to a clamp I4 which is tightly clamped on the exhaust pipe.With clamp I4 properly placed, tube Ill normally stands in about therelative positive illustrated when spring I2 is unstressed.

An extension tube I5, preferably somewhat larger than tube I0, extendsrearwardly from tube I0 and is structurally connected to that tube by aspring, I6. The spring is connected to tube I5 by suitable clips I! andto tube I!) by the clips l3. Preferably spring I6 is coiled in conicalformation as illustrated and has its coils in close intercontact whenthe spring is unstressed. The spring thus forms a non-compressibleconnection between extension tube I5 and sliding tube IE, but at thesame time forms a laterally flexible connection which allows extensiontube I5 to yield laterally if it is subjected to any lateral forces. Ifthe extension tube is backed into any obstruction, it moves forwardly,sliding tube III forwardly along the exhaust pipe and spring I2 iscompressed. 0n relief from the applied force,

s ring I expands and restores the parts to their normal position. Toprevent injury to spring I2, or to spring I6, by tensile stresses whichmight result if the real part of the extension be caught on any objectwhen the automobile is moving forwardly, spring I2 is connected withclamp I4 through two small breakable tabs 20 which may typically be madeof sheet copper. The rearmost coil of spring I2 passes through boththese tabs and the tabs have holes through which the clamping bolts Maof the clamp extend. Upon any rearward pull applied to spring I2, thetabs are designed to rupture and release the spring before anypermanently distorting force is applied to the spring, or before anyharmful force is applied to the exhaust pipe.

Automobile tail pipes now in use vary considerably in diameter, thepresent and commonly used size varying from 1 to 2" in steps. In thepreferred form of my size adaption, sliding tube I0 is made of aninternal diameter to directly Tube I0 may be made as a solid tube; butpreferably it is slit longitudinally at 36 and provided with two tabs 3|to which a screw 32 is applied for small size adjustments of the tube soas to adjust to a nice sliding fit upon the tail pipe to allow it slidefreely but to have no looseness.

Figs. 2, 3 and 6 show the tube fitted to a considerably smaller tailpipeone of about 1%" diameter. The tube is provided with three sets oflongitudinally spaced small holes 35, two of which are shown in Fig. 6.A bent' wire 36, of about A diameter. has bent ends 31 which pass firstthrough holes in the ends of metal strips 38, and then pass through oneor more spacing Washers 39 which'lie directly against the inner surfaceof tube Ill. One such washer '39 is shown in the figures now beingreferred to. The final ends of wires 35 are bent, as shown at 40, overthe exterior surface of tube I tov hold all of the parts inplace. Thecombination of a wire, metal strip and the washers forms a sizeadaptio-n liner for fitting the smaller sized tail pipe. The wires 36themselves bear upon the tail pipe, and clamp screw 32 allows for smalladjustments to make the fit a close but sliding one.

Figs. 4 and '7 show another arrangement, for fitting a somewhat largertail pipe Na, and wherein only the wires 36 and the metal strips 38 areused. The metal strips have a camber to fit closely to the inner surfaceof tube iii as illustrated. Figs. and 8 show an arrangement wherein twospaced washers 39 are placed be hind each metal strip 38, thus holdingthe wires 38 further inwardly and adapting the device to fit a smallertail pipe than that shown in Figs. 2 and3. Fig. 9 shows the arrangementwherein only the wires 36 are used, to adapt the device to a tail pipe Ilc of a size larger than that shown at I la in Figs. l and 7. For astill larger tail pipe it has been described how tube I0 can be directlyfitted to the pipe without using any of the adapter parts. For a tailpipe smaller than that which can be accommodated by using a plurality ofwashers 39 as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, instead of using a larger'numberof the spacing washers, it may in some instances be advisable to buildup the external diameter of thetail pipe itself. This can easily be doneby choosing a piece of tubing of proper internal and externalvdiameters, long enough to encase the tail pipe from the position ofclamp M to its rear end.

1. An adaption system for fitting a tube to a pipe or the like, saidsystem comprising a size adjusting clamp applied to the tube which islongitudinally slitted to allow of small size adjustments, and a seriesof removable and replaceable shimmin units spaced around the innersurface of the tube; eachof said'shimming units including a Wireextending longitudinally of the tube and having its ends bent andpassing through holes in the tube wall.

2. An adaption system for fitting a tube to a pipe or the like, saidsystem comprising a size adjusting clamp applied to the tube which islongitudinally slitted to allow of small size adjustments, and a seriesof removable andreplaceable shimming units spaced around the innersurface of the tube, each of said shimming units including a wireextending longitudinally of the tube and having its ends bent andpassingthrough holes in the-tube Wall, and including also asubstantially flat strip extending longitudinally of the tube, lyingbetween the tube wall and the longitudinal part of the wire and havingholes through its "ends through which the bent end portions of the wirepass.

3. An adaption system for fitting a tube to a pipe or the like, saidsystem comprising a size adjusting clamp applied to the tube which islongitudinally slitted to allow of small size adtions of the wire andlying between the strip and 7 through holes in the tube wall, andincluding also a substantially flat strip extending longitudinally ofthe tube, lying between the tube wall and the longitudinal part of thewire and in contact with the latter, and having holes through its endsthrough which the bent end portions of the wire pass.

5. An adaption system for fitting a tube to a pipe or the like, saidsystem comprising a series of shim ming units spaced around the innersurface of the'tub'e, each said shimming unit including' a wireextending longitudinally of the tube and having its ends bent andpassing through holes in the tube wall, a substantially flat stripextending longitudinally of the tube, lying between the tube wall andthe longitudinal'part of the wire and in contact with the latter, andhaving holes through its ends through which the bent end, rtions of thewire pass, and including also spacing washers surrounding the bent endportions of the Wires and lying between the strips and the tube wall. 7

' CARROLL W. CHESTER.

REFERENCES CITED lhe following references are of record in the

